Management Information System

Management information system (MIS) refers to the processing of information through

computers and other intelligent devices to manage and support managerial decisions
within an organization.
In simpler words MIS is the use of information technology, people, and business
processes to record, store and process data to produce information that decision makers
can use to make day to day decisions.
The concept may include systems termed
 Transaction processing system,
 Decision support system,
 Expert system
 Executive information system.

Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)

This type of information system is used to record the day to day transactions of a
business. An example of a Transaction Processing System is a Point of Sale (POS)
system. A POS system is used to record the daily sales.

Management Information Systems (MIS)

Management Information Systems are used to guide tactic managers to make semi-
structured decisions. The output from the transaction processing system is used as
input to the MIS system.

Decision Support Systems (DSS)

Decision support systems are used by top level managers to make semi-structured
decisions. The output from the Management Information System is used as input to the
decision support system.DSS systems also get data input from external sources such
as current market forces, competition, etc.

There are different areas of concentration with different duties and responsibilities in
information system managers starting from
 Chief information officer (CIOs)
 Chief technology officer (CTOs)
 IT directors
 IT security managers.
  Chief information officers (CIOs) are responsible for the overall technology
strategy of their organizations. Basically, they are more of the decision makers and
action takers when it comes down to determining the technology or information
goals of an organization and making sure the necessary planning to implement
those goals is being met.
 Chief technology officers (CTOs) are responsible for evaluating how new
technology can help their organization. They usually recommend technological
solutions to support the policies issued by the CIO.
 IT directors including MIS directors are in charge of both their organization's
Information technology departments and the supervision of thereof. They are also
in charge of implementing the policies chosen by the other top branches (CIOs,
CTOs). It is their role to ensure the availability of data and network services by
coordinating IT activities.
 IT Security Managers oversee the network and security data as the title implies.
They develop programs to offer information and awareness to their employees
about security threats. This team is very important because they must keep up-to-
date on IT security measures in order to be successful within their organization.
Any security violations need to be investigated and supervised by this specific
team.

Components of MIS

 People – people who use the information system

 Data – the data that the information system records
 Business Procedures – procedures put in place on how to record, store and
analyze data
 Hardware – these include servers, workstations, networking equipment, printers,
etc.
 Software – these are programs used to handle the data. These include
programs such as spreadsheet programs, database software, etc.